DePin

peaq and IoTeX are both blockchain projects built for the machine economy and DePIN, or decentralized physical infrastructure networks, which is why they are often compared. Both aim to bring real-world devices, robots, and IoT networks onto blockchain networks and use on-chain incentives to enable decentralized collaboration.

The machine economy is a core concept advanced by peaq. It refers to a system in which machines, devices, vehicles, and AI Agents can use blockchain to independently complete identity authentication, data exchange, payment settlement, and coordinated operations. Through machine identity, peaq ID, on-chain payments, and device incentive mechanisms, peaq enables real-world machines to become independent participants in the on-chain economy.

Peaq is a Layer1 blockchain focused on the Machine Economy and DePIN, or decentralized physical infrastructure networks. It is designed to help devices, robots, vehicles, and real-world infrastructure independently handle identity verification, data exchange, and value settlement. Through machine identity, peaq ID, machine payments, and on-chain incentive mechanisms, peaq provides the underlying infrastructure for building decentralized collaboration networks among real-world devices.

World Mobile Chain is a Layer 3 blockchain network built for communication infrastructure use cases. Built on Base and compatible with the EVM smart contract environment, it is mainly used to support decentralized mobile communication, eSIM services, digital identity verification, and on-chain network settlement. Through EarthNode, AirNode, and the WMTx incentive mechanism, it moves connection, authentication, and data billing processes from traditional communication networks onto the blockchain, creating a community-driven DePIN, or decentralized physical infrastructure network, ecosystem.

World Mobile Chain and Helium are both telecom DePIN, or decentralized physical infrastructure network, projects built on blockchain incentive mechanisms, but they differ clearly in network goals, communication methods, and ecosystem positioning. Helium focuses more on IoT and wireless hotspot networks, using community deployed Hotspots to provide connectivity for low power devices. World Mobile Chain, by contrast, places greater emphasis on full mobile communication infrastructure, including eSIM, identity verification, on-chain communication settlement, and a decentralized operator model.

EarthNode is a core validator node in the World Mobile Chain network. It is mainly responsible for identity verification, on-chain transaction processing, network coordination, and communication data settlement. As an important part of decentralized communication infrastructure, EarthNode not only performs blockchain validation functions, but also connects users, AirNodes, and the on-chain economic system within the communication network.

Spacecoin builds a decentralized internet network through low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, blockchain, and DePIN, or decentralized physical infrastructure networks. Unlike traditional ISPs, which rely on centralized operations, Spacecoin uses an open network architecture that allows users, nodes, and infrastructure participants to jointly maintain internet services through on-chain mechanisms.

Spacecoin is a decentralized internet network built on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and blockchain technology. It aims to provide open, censorship-resistant, and low-cost internet access worldwide through a DePIN, or decentralized physical infrastructure network, model. Unlike traditional internet service providers, Spacecoin brings together satellite communications, on-chain payments, and open network governance, allowing network resources to be deployed and used in a more decentralized way.

STAR maintains the operation of the Starpower network through energy contribution data, device participation incentives, and on-chain coordination mechanisms, turning real world energy activity into an on-chain incentive structure.

Starpower is a distributed energy network protocol built on a DePIN architecture. It is designed to aggregate solar power, electric vehicles, home batteries, and household energy devices, while coordinating the supply and demand of renewable energy.

Starpower leverages the DePIN network to aggregate solar energy, electric vehicles, and home energy storage devices, utilizing on-chain systems to coordinate energy data, device status, and energy dispatch workflows.

Theta EdgeCloud is a hybrid AI edge computing platform launched by Theta Network. It coordinates distributed Edge Nodes and cloud GPU resources to process AI inference, video rendering, and other computing tasks. After developers submit a task, the system allocates it to global nodes based on resource requirements, while TFUEL is used for resource payments and node rewards. Compared with traditional centralized AI cloud platforms, Theta EdgeCloud places greater emphasis on distributed GPU sharing, edge computing, and efficient resource utilization.

Theta Network uses a layered node system made up of three core roles: Validator Node, Guardian Node, and Edge Node. Validator Nodes are responsible for block production and main chain validation, Guardian Nodes provide consensus oversight and network security, while Edge Nodes handle edge tasks such as video delivery, AI inference, and GPU computing. Through multi-layer node collaboration, Theta aims to support blockchain security, decentralized governance, and AI edge computing capacity at the same time.

Theta Network (THETA) is a decentralized blockchain infrastructure built for AI, video streaming, and edge computing. Through globally distributed nodes that share bandwidth and GPU resources, it provides low-cost, highly scalable network support for video delivery, AI inference, and Web3 media applications. Its ecosystem uses a dual-token model with THETA and TFUEL, where THETA is used for governance and staking, while TFUEL is used to pay for network resources and transaction fees. As generative AI and decentralized infrastructure continue to develop, Theta has gradually expanded into EdgeCloud, GPU computing, NFTs, Web3 entertainment, and several other areas.

THETA and TFUEL are the two core tokens in the Theta Network ecosystem, but they do not serve the same function. THETA is mainly used for governance, node staking, and network security, while TFUEL is used to pay for gas, AI computation, video processing, node rewards, and other network resource consumption. Theta’s dual-token mechanism is designed to separate governance from network operations, improving ecosystem efficiency while supporting the growth of edge computing and AI infrastructure.